ARRA and Early Childhood

1
ARRA and Early Childhood

• Office of Early Childhood Education and Family
  Services
• Lindy Buch, Ph.D., Director
• Noel Cole, MA, Early Childhood Special Education
  Coordinator
• Gary Schafer, Department Manager
• Vanessa Winborne, MPH, Early On (Early
  Intervention) Coordinator

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Early Childhood Purposes for ARRA

• Create jobs and promote recovery
• Assist those most impacted by the recession
• Invest in infrastructure to provide long-term
  economic benefits
• Stabilize local budgets to avoid reductions in
  essential services

3
Early Childhood Principles and ARRA

• Spend funds quickly
• Improve student achievement
• Ensure transparency, reporting and accountability
• Minimize the funding cliff

4
ARRA Early Childhood Funding

• Head Start and Early Head Start
• Child Care and Development Block Grant
• Early Childhood Advisory Council
• ECIC Lead
• Basis for 2010 Early Learning Challenge Grant
  Program
• Title I
• Other ESEA Programs
• IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619

5
Michigan-Specific Issues/Ideas

• Local collaboration theme
• Great Start Collaboratives
• Systemic opportunities
• Collaborative recruitment and enrollment
• Developmental screening
• Quality improvement
• Professional development
• Inclusion
• ELL/Dual language learners
• Parenting education and services/family literacy
  programs
• Increasing enrollment/tuition subsidy

6
Title I, Part A Recovery Funds

• Consistent with district Title I goals and needs
  for improvement
• Increase dosage in GSRP/Head Start
• Full-day, full-week, full-year
• Serve more eligible children
• 4 year olds
• 3 year olds
• Parent education/family literacy
• Professional development
• All community early childhood providers
• Blend with other ARRA early childhood funds
• Other sustainable improvements to local early
  childhood programs

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Other ESEA Possibilities

• Title I School Improvement Grants
• Education for Homeless Children and Youth
• National School Lunch Program Equipment Grants
• Enhancing Education Through Technology
• Facilities Grants and Bonds

8
IDEA, Part B, Section 619Early Childhood Special
Education (ECSE) Ideas

• Increase inclusion options by improving community
  early childhood settings
• Purchase assistive technology devices
• Purchase assessment materials
• Professional development inclusively!
• Early Childhood Teacher Consultant positions

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More ECSE Ideas

• Local Inclusive Options Advisory Committees
• Demonstration sites for inclusive preschool
  programs
• Fund the additional costs for wrap-around for
  children with IEPs who need additional care
• Improve ECSE curriculum with materials and
  support for implementation
• Collect and analyze data on implementation of new
  ideas

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Ideas for Early OnPart C of IDEA

• Any allowable Part C purpose
• Purchase sustainable equipment
• Assistive technology
• Assessment items
• Professional development for Part C providers and
  partners
• Increase community program quality to provide
  natural environments
• Increase Child Find activities and community
  networks
• Health community ABCD model
• Child care community

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Applications and Funding

• ECEFS may assist OSI on Title I Part A grants if
  line item 118 (preschool services) is utilized
• ECEFS manages 619 and Part C grants
• ARRA allocations are posted on MDE website
• Part C MEGS application for first 50 is
  available
• 619 application will be available SOON
• Applications for 50 are due July 1
• Funds will be available as soon as applications
  can be approved
• We are working on procedures for the second 50
• Awaiting federal guidance on reporting
  requirements

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Contact Us

• Office of Early Childhood Education and Family
  Services 517-373-8483
• FAX [phone]
• Lindy Buch buchl_at_michigan.gov
• Nole Cole colen_at_michigan.gov
• Gary Schafer schaferg_at_michigan.gov
• Vanessa Winborne winbornev_at_michigan.gov